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sensible young woman。 Well； I tried； but there wasn't a girl in the place
that was fit to nurse Master Horace's child。 And the end of it was； I came
myself； for Master Horace had been like my own when he was a little lad。
My lady pretended to be vexed with me； but the day I sailed she thanked
me in words I never thought to hear from her； for she was a bit proud
always。〃 The faithful servant's voice trembled。 She leaned back in her
chair； and forgot for the moment the new house and the new duties。 She
was back again in the old nursery with the fair…haired child playing about
her knees。 But Alice's face recalled her； and she continued the story。 She
had； she said； dreaded the meeting with her new mistress； and was
prepared to find her 〃a sort of a heathen woman； who'd pull down Master
Horace till he couldn't call himself a gentleman。〃
But when she saw the graceful creature who received her with gentle
words and gestures of kindliness； and when she found her young master
not only content； but happy； and when she took in her arms the laughing
healthy baby； she feltthough she regretted its dark eyes and hairmore at
home than she could have believed possible。 The nurseries were so large
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and comfortable； and so much consideration was shown to her； that she
confessed； 〃I should have been more ungrateful than a cat if I hadn't
settled comfortable。〃
Then came nearly five happy years； during which time her young
mistress had found a warm and secure place in the good Yorkshire heart。
〃She was that loving and that kind that Dick Burdas； the groom； used to
say that he believed she was an angel as had took up with them dark folks；
to show 'em what an angel was like。〃 Mrs。 Bentley went on：
〃She wasn't always quite happy； and I wondered what brought the
shadow into her face； and why she would at times sigh that deep that I
could have cried。 After a bit I knew what it was。 It was the Maori in her。
She told me one night that she was a wicked woman； and ought never to
have married Master Horace； for she got tired sometimes of the English
house and its ways； and longed for her father's /whare/； （that's a native hut；
miss）。 She grieved something awful one day when she had been to see old
Tim； the Maori who lives behind the stables。 She called herself a bad and
ungrateful woman； and thought there must be some evil spirit in her
tempting her into the old ways； because； when she saw Tim eating； and
you know what bad stuff they eat； she had fair longed to join him。 She
gave me a fright I didn't get over for nigh a week。 She leaned her bonny
head against my knee； and I stroked her cheek and hummed some silly
nursery tune；for she was all of a tremble and like a child；and she fell
asleep just where she was。〃
〃Poor thing！〃 said Alice； softly。
〃Eh； but it's what's coming that upsets me； ma'am。 Eh； what suffering
for my pretty lamb； and her that wouldn't have hurt a worm！ Baby would
be about six months old when she came in one day with him in her arms；
and they /were/ a picture。 His little hand was fast in her hair。 She always
walked as if she'd wheels on her feet； that gliding and graceful。 She had on
a sort of sheeny yellow silk； and her cheeks were like them damask roses
at home； and her eyes fair shone like stars。 'Isn't he a beauty； Nana？' she
asked me。 'If only he had blue eyes； and that hair of gold like my
husband's； and not these ugly eyes of mine！' And as she spoke she sighed
as I dreaded to hear。 Then she told me to help her to unpack her new dress
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from Paris； which she was to wear at the Rochester races the next day。
Master Horace always chose her dresses； and he was right proud of her in
them。 And next morning he came into the nursery with her； and she was all
in pale red； and that beautiful！ 'Isn't she scrumptious； Nana？' he said； in his
boyish way。 'Don't spoil her dress； children。 How like her Marie grows！'
Those two little ones they had got her on her knees on the ground； and
were hugging her as if they couldn't let her go。 But when he said that； she
got up very still and white。
〃 'I am sorry；' she said； 'they must never be like me。'
〃 'They can't be any one better； can they； baby？' he answered her； and
he tossed the child nearly up to the ceiling。 But he looked worried as he
went out。 I saw them drive away； and they looked happy enough。 And oh；
miss； I saw them come back。 We were in the porch； me and the children。
Master Horace lifted her down； and I heard him say； 'Never mind； Marie。'
But she never looked his way nor ours； she walked straight in and upstairs
to her room； past my bonny darling with his arm stretched out to her； and
past Miss Marie； who was jumping up and down； and shouting 'Muvver'；
and I heard her door shut。 Then Master Horace took baby from me。
〃 'Go up to her；' he said； and I could scarce hear him。 His face was all
drawn like； but I felt that silly and stupid that I could say nothing； and just
went upstairs。〃 Mrs。 Bentley put her knitting down； and throwing her
apron over her head sobbed aloud。
〃O nurse； what was it？〃 cried Alice； and the colour left her cheeks。
〃Do tell me。 I am so sorry for them。 What was it？〃 It was several minutes
before the good woman could recover herself； then she began：
〃She told me； and Dick Burdas he told me； and it was like this。 When
they got to the race…course；it was the first races they'd had in Rochester；…
…all the gentry was there； and those that knew her always made a deal of
her； she had such half…shy； winning ways。 And she seemed very bright；
Dick said； talking with the governor's lady； who is full of fun and sparkle。
The carriages were all together； and Major Beaumont； a kind old
gentleman who's always been a good friend to Master Horace； would have
them in his carriage for luncheon； or whatever it was。 Dick says he was
thinking that she was the prettiest lady there； when his eye was caught by
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two or three parties of Maoris setting themselves right in front of the
carriages。 There were four or five in each lot； and they were mostly